CSA Interview Qs

Question 1

In Pega 8.1 what are the new components added for application development?

Answer 1

From App Dev point of view, couple of new features added:

• We can use role-based workspaces
• Developers have the capability to review complete project highlights on a single page
• Effective management of resuable component

Question 2

What do you mean by work-space or studio?

Answer 2

It is an environment that provides specific tools and features

Question 3

What are the various workspaces supported in the latest release?

Answer 3

There are four types:

• App Studio,
• Dev Studio
• Admin Studio
• Prediction Studio

Question 4

Can you use Pega Express in 8.1?

Answer 4

The App Studio is nothing but former Pega Express

Question 5

A system admin complained that he is not able to access the Admin Studio? What could be the potential reason?

Answer 5

To access Admin Studio, you should have a few Privileges:

• SysAdmin4
• PegaRULES:SysOpsAdministrator
• PegaRULES:SysOpsObserver

Question 6

Like we used to switch portal, similarly, is there any way to Switch Studio as such?

Answer 6

Yes. In the header of the workspace, we need to click the Switch Studio menu.

Question 7

How can you show the relevant record?

Answer 7

We can show it by right-clicking the relevant record management tab for a specific class in the App Explorer.

Question 8

What is Prediction studio?

Answer 8

It is the studio where you can build ML models for adaptive, predictive, and text analytics.

Question 9

What is a channel?

Answer 9

A channel is the technology or application where a user interacts with the Pega Platform application

Question 10

What is a Chabot ?

Answer 10

A Chatbot is the part of an application that handles NLP, case processing, and AI to interact with a user in a conversational way

Question 11

What are the types of channels supported?

Answer 11

Amazon Alexa (uses voice commands)
Email (sends email messages)
Facebook Messenger (sends text messages in Messenger)
SMS (sends text messages from a mobile phone)

Question 12

Your client wants to built a Chatbot on Facebook. What will be your recommendations?

Answer 12

They must purchase a separate license for Pega Intelligent Virtual Assistant and install the Facebook channel component from Pega Exchange and post that add in the ruleset in your application.

Question 13

Your client set up an email account but the outgoing email is failing. What are the possible reasons?

Answer 13

Check the connection refused by provider (most times they treat it as spam)

Question 14

What is email listener?

Answer 14

Email listeners provide the Pega Platform with the information it needs to route incoming email messages to an email service rule.

Question 15

While creating the listener, a developer select “Block startup”. What will be the impact?

Answer 15

When selected, “Block startup” stops the listener from being started automatically or manually.

Question 16

Is there any need to set email listener in separate node?

Answer 16

It helps enhancing performance.

Question 17

Any way to delete tracking data for listener?

Answer 17

Select the “Reset start up” option in email listener.

Question 18

What is latency period?

Answer 18

After the amount of time specified, the listener checks the email folder specified for messages.

Note - enter the duration of listener’s rest period in seconds

Question 19

Your architect wants to increase the number of threads per server node that this listener requestor creates. How will you do that?

Answer 19

Increase the count under concurrent threads field

Question 20

What do you mean by Declarative?

Answer 20

It is something that allows you to set up calculations which occur when one of the values used in the calculation changes. The result of one declarative rule can trigger another declarative rule in a process known as chaining.

Question 21

Can you perform Obj-Save in Trigger activity ?

Answer 21

No

Question 22

What are the new features related to Data in 7.x?

Answer 22

• Introduction of Data Explorer
• Can dynamically provide data
• Data page parameter can be passed from anywhere
• Data page can be accessed from anywhere in application
• Data page can now have multiple data sources

Question 23

Is there any limitation of Asynchronous Data Page?

Answer 23

Asynchronous Declare pages cannot run declarative expressions, triggers, and other rules that belong to a declarative network.

For example, you can enable executing declarative expressions in a background requester; but if the declarative expression refers to properties defined in external named pages which are not present in the background requester, then the declarative expression may not execute.

Question 24

What do you understand by non-blocking user interfaces? As an architect, where you would like to use this feature?

Answer 24

Non-blocking user interfaces means the UI element which are of the user’s interest but not necessary for them. The user can interact immediately with the work item, typing in the text box. Since the other sections are asynchronously loaded, the user can even click Submit to process the action before the defer loaded sections display.

Question 25

How do you enable defer load using data page in section?

Answer 25

You have the option to chose the defer load check box and upon selecting you can mention the D page name under the Using page field

Question 26

While trying to trace the asynchronous data page (ADP), developer complained that they can't trace it. What could be the possible reason?

Answer 26

In the Tracer configuration, if you have to trace ADP, then you need to enable two options: Interaction and ADP load. If these are not checked, you can't trace them at runtime

Question 27

What is the significance of requester pool?

Answer 27

Requestor pooling often improves the performance of a service because requestors are reused, their allocated resources are shared, and the service doesn't need to wait for a requestor to be created.

Question 28

The "Load this Page Asynchronously?" checkbox is checked on the Declare Page Definition tab, but it still is not working. What could be the possible reason?

Answer 28

The pre-configuration setting can cause it to stop loading asynchronously

Question 29

In SMA, which components will you check to see the max load on the requestor pool ?

Answer 29

"Most Active" parameter. This indicates the maximum load on system (the most ADPs concurrently executing)

Question 30

How will you modify the requester pool settings?

Answer 30

Log in as a developer; then from the landing page go to integration and resources and check the service package option, you will see the AsyncDeclarativesPool service package there: - You can open it and modify the value under the pooling tab. Note - remember to restart the server.

Question 31

What is Property-Seek-Value method?

Answer 31

This method is mostly used for backward chaining purposes

Question 32

How does Declare Constraints work?

Answer 32

When the system detects that a constraint fails, it adds a message to the page of the property identified in the left portion of the require field (if any). The presence of this message ordinarily prevents the system from saving the page containing this property value to the database.

Question 33

Can you apply constrains on embedded page properties?

Answer 33

Yes

Question 34

Your business wants to show the constraints violation error immediately, rather than waiting till end. How can you can do it?

Answer 34

Make use of flow action and harness rules, by enabling the checkbox for enable expression calculation

Question 35

When should you use a Decision Table?

Answer 35

When there is a possibility of deriving a value from more than one choice

Question 36

What happens when one of the rows in a Decision Table rule returns false?

Answer 36

If any of the conditions in a row evaluate to false, processing continues with the next row

Question 37

What is the significance of evaluate all rows in a Decision Table rule?

Answer 37

It ensures that the entire Decision Table has been evaluated before returning the result

Question 38

Your business has decided to give 50% off to a product if the card member is Gold, if Silver then 40%, otherwise give flat 10% . How will you design this?

Answer 38

We can do it using Decision Table rule, where we get the discount amount based on return value from the table

Question 39

Your business wants the manager of particular location to decide which month they want to give discount. How will you do that?

Answer 39

We can delegate a Decision Table and let the manager make the changes.

Question 40

What is the typical usage of Decision Tree?

Answer 40

Use a Decision Tree to record if/then logic that calculates a value from a set of test conditions organized as a tree structure

Question 41

Where can a Decision Tree be referenced?

Answer 41

Flow, Activity, Declare Expression

Question 42

Where can a Decision Table can be referenced?

Answer 42

Flow, Activity, Declare Expression

Question 43

From a Decision Tree, what are the rules you can call?

Answer 43

Decision Tree, Map Value, Decision Table

Question 44

Is there any limit for the number of nodes of a Decision Tree?

Answer 44

300-500 max (as post performance might get impacted)

Question 45

Does Decision Tree produce forward or backward chaining?

Answer 45

No

Question 46

What do you mean by Declare Constraints?

Answer 46

Constraints rules are used to define and enforce comparison relationships among property values. They can provide an automatic form of property validation every time the property’s value is “touched”

Question 47

What is forward chaining?

Answer 47

Forward chaining allows for the automatic propagation of changes in one property value to changes in other property values or to indexes For example - the way the system evaluates constraints automatically each time a property is identified in a constraints rule is changed is known as forward chaining.

Question 48

Give some examples where forward chaining is used?

Answer 48

Declare Expression rules (whenever inputs change), Declare Trigger and Declare OnChange rules.

Question 49

What is backward chaining?

Answer 49

Backward chaining executes Declare Expression rules when a value is needed for a property, rather than when inputs change.

Question 50

Give an example where backward chaining works?

Answer 50

Backward chaining applies to Declare Expression rules - When no value is present - When property is missing - Whenever used

Question 51

What is a Locatable page? Where are they used ?

Answer 51

Locatable pages reduce the need for pages to be explicitly named in the rule. They can be used with Constraints and Declare Expression rules. There is no need to use "When" condition if you use this feature in backward chaining.

Question 52

How does Rule Resolution work when it looks for Declaratives?

Answer 52

1) Filters candidate rules based on a requestor’s RuleSet list of RuleSets and Versions 2) Searches through ancestor classes (in the class hierarchy) for candidates when no matching rule is found in the starting class

Question 53

Can you circumstance a Declarative rule ?

Answer 53

Yes

Question 54

What can cause Declarative rules to be re-evaluated ?

Answer 54

When a circumstance property’s value changes, the declarative network re-evaluates the expression or constraint. However, if a circumstance property reference uses a top-level page name, changing that property’s value does not cause the declarative network to re-evaluate the expression or constraint.

Question 55

What does Context-free expression rules mean?

Answer 55

A context-free expression rule is a Declare Expression rule that applies to an embedded page or pages. It computes the value of a target property in every page of that class that appears on the clipboard (regardless of the name, class or content of higher-level pages above the embedded page)

Question 56

What are some of the best practices for Declare Expression?

Answer 56

Never change the target properties manually, prefer to use whenever used

Question 57

Your business wants you to design a mechanism so that, whenever someone modifies the interest rate, the regional head gets a mail. How will you implement it?

Answer 57

Use Declare OnChange targeting the interest rate property, and call an activity of OnChange type to send email notification.

Question 58

Your business wants that if any of their customer has failed to pay one year EMI, then they will no longer be able to apply for any new product of the bank and all the existing requests will be frozen or cancelled. How to implement it?

Answer 58

We can set a flag which can be checked before creating any new request for the customer. We need to track the same flag via a Declare OnChange rule and then suspend all work object via that.

Question 59

Can an OnChange type rule call or branch to a non-OnChange rule?

Answer 59

No

Question 60

What are the best practices of Declare OnChange ?

Answer 60

- Don't create an infinite loop - Don't attempt to overtly set the value of a property that is the target of a Declare Expression rule - Design the OnChange activity to execute quickly

Question 61

What is policy override flow?

Answer 61

It a kind of flow used to handle some special cases (eg; policy breaches, etc.)

Question 62

What are the main components required to have the policy override flow in place?

Answer 62

- Property (to show business exception OnChange rule) - Flow - Reviewer with ReviewPolicyOverride privilege

Question 63

Is there any router in place to take care of the routing of policy override flow?

Answer 63

ToPolicyOverrideOperator

Question 64

Is there any out-of-the-box flow for the policy override flow?

Answer 64

Work-.PolicyOverride

Question 65

What is the difference between DeclareOnchage-Suspend workitem and policy override ?

Answer 65

"Suspend workitem" completely rejects the work items (via policy override). Other work on the work item is blocked until the review completes

Question 66

Your business has given the following use case: User will enter their date of birth and the age will be automatically populate. How will you do that?

Answer 66

Use Declare Expression and retrieve it by subtracting the Date of Birth from current date time

Question 67

Your business has given the following use case: User will enter their date of birth and the age will be automatically populate. You are taking two date types parameter, but age is not date type. How will you convert from date time to integer ?

Answer 67

Use "datetimedifference" function

Question 68

Using Declare Expression is a way of performing forward chaining or backward chaining ?

Answer 68

Both. If you select "Whenever input changes", it behaves as forward chaining. "Whenever used" indicates backward chaining

Question 69

Your business wants to give provision to your end manager to adjust the calculation of final loan disbursed amount (by offering some random discount ). How you can do this?

Answer 69

We can delegate the Declare Expression rule to the manager.

Question 70

A developer complained that he has successfully created a property but when he is trying to define expression for the same, it is failing to do that. What could be the possible reason?

Answer 70

Check whether "Cannot be declarative target" is checked or not. It should be unchecked.

Question 71

Can you use symbolic page or primary page ?

Answer 71

No. You cannot use symbolic page names (ie; primary or step-page) because they are meaningful only in an activity execution context

Question 72

Can you create a Declare Expression on a property defined in Rule-Declare class?

Answer 72

No

Question 73

Can you define Declare expression on page list properties?

Answer 73

Yes. Under the page context field, identify a Page List or Page Group property reference plus parentheses, starting with a period and omit any index between parentheses

Question 74

Suppose you have created two Declare Expression for the same property. One is with page context "myPage.EmployeeAge" and the other is only the property "EmployeeAge". At run time which one will run?

Answer 74

The one with longer reference will execute.

Question 75

What are the decision rules you can refer from Declare Expression?

Answer 75

Decision Tree, Decision Table and Map Value

Question 76

Can you fire a Declare Expression from an OnChange type activity?

Answer 76

No

Question 77

Your client wants to implement a use case so that whenever report instances get saved in production, you get notified. How will you do that?

Answer 77

Create a Declare Trigger

Question 78

When is Declare Trigger used?

Answer 78

Create Declare Trigger rules to cause an activity to run when instances of a specific class are created, updated, or deleted in the database.

Question 79

Is Declare Trigger forward or backward chaining?

Answer 79

Forward chaining

Question 80

What are the different types of event for which a Declare Trigger can be configured?

Answer 80

Saved, Deleted, Saved, Modified, Committed save and Committed deleted.

Question 81

You don’t want to engage your main thread to run trigger every time you perform a save. Is there any alternative to achieve it?

Answer 81

Design the trigger with trigger in background option. It will ensure that the activity executes in a new requestor, outside of the context of forward chaining.

Question 82

A developer complained that they have designed trigger with "run in background" option but still can’t get it worked correctly. The changes are not reflecting. What could be the reason?

Answer 82

If you choose "run in background", the activity should include a Commit method

Question 83

A developer is planning to use obj-save with write now with a trigger activity in background thread. Is it advisable or not?

Answer 83

No, this is not advisable, because it is not supported.

Question 84

What are the property types you can set in a trigger ?

Answer 84

Single Value, Value List or Page List property

Question 85

Your client has the following use case: they want a manager to update the CTC of every employee. They also want to store the old CTC separately. How will you do that?

Answer 85

Design a Declare Trigger to track change of the property and set a property in the field "copy value to" in order to capture the old data.

Question 86

A developer designed its trigger activity in such a way so that it accesses some data from Clipboard and process it. He also chose to run it in background. At runtime, it does not work. What could be the reason?

Answer 86

The triggered activity cannot access Clipboard pages other than the primary page. So if he tries to access any other page, then it will fail

Question 87

When can you use file listener?

Answer 87

File Listener form in conjunction with Service File rules to import data from a file or files into your system.

Question 88

What is the purpose of "associated ruleset" for file listener?

Answer 88

It is required to define when you want to do a ruleset specific packaging. If you keep this empty, system will pick up the application ruleset.

Question 89

What are the various way to start a file listener?

Answer 89

- Run on all nodes - Node based startup - Host based startup (NodeClassification based startup)

Question 90

What is the difference between Node based and Host based?

Answer 90

Node based startup is when the listener is started only on specified nodes. Host based startup is when the listener is started on a specified number of nodes on specific servers within the cluster.

Question 91

How you can make the listener pick every file from a specified folder?

Answer 91

In the Source name mask field, if we define *.* then it will pick up all the files.

Question 92

Your business wants the listener to read only the csv files. How to do that?

Answer 92

In the source name mask field, you can define *.csv

Question 93

Your business wants the file listener to process s multiple files at the same time. How to achieve it?

Answer 93

Mention a single digit number (greater than 1) in the concurrent thread field.

Question 94

What is pooling interval?

Answer 94

It is the number of seconds that a listener waits before it checks for newly arrived files

Question 95

Your system consists of a single server node or the file listener is set to run only on a single node. Will you lock the temporary file?

Answer 95

No. It is advisable not to lock it.

Question 96

Your business complained that few of the files are not getting picked up by file listeners while others are getting picked up properly. What could be the reason?

Answer 96

One issue could be that the files are empty, and if you want the empty files to be picked up and work by listener, it is better to check the option "Process Empty Files?"

Question 97

How do you let the listener know what to do with corrupted or erroneous file?

Answer 97

Under error tab, for the File operation field, choose Rename or Delete to specify what to do with files in error

Question 98

What is Guest user in PEGA?

Answer 98

They are unauthenticated requestors (typically have access to only the rules in the rulesets in the PRPC:Unauthenticated access group). The Clipboard for a guest requestor does not include pages for the Operator ID, organization, division, or organization unit

Question 99

How do you customize the log in sequence for all operators?

Answer 99

Modify the Code-Security.ApplicationProfileSetup activity

Question 100

Business wants two operators from two different units to be part of same workgroup. Is it possible?

Answer 100

Members of a work group may belong to different organization units, divisions, or even different organizations.

Question 101

If your browser locale is French but your user locale is German, which one will be picked up at run time?

Answer 101

German locale.

Question 102

A developer complained that while updating a user Email ID in an Operator ID rule form, they are getting an error stating the length is more than 40 character. How will you solve it?

Answer 102

pyEmailAddress property has the limit of 40 characters (can be overrided)

Question 103

Where in DB does the Operator ID normally gets stored?

Answer 103

pr_operator table

Question 104

Your business wants to restrict the access to a particular workbasket only to few set of users. How will you do that?

Answer 104

Set a new role for those set of users and define the same role under the role field in the workbasket

Question 105

What is workbasket?

Answer 105

Queue of open items

Question 106

How many types of workbasket can be there?

Answer 106

Two types. Standard and Robotics

Question 107

What are the pre-requisites to create custom mobile app?

Answer 107

Have to set the following settings system-wide: - MobileBuildServerAuthentication authentication profile. - DSS: pega/mobilebuild/baseurl

Question 108

As a developer you need to debug a mobile app. How do you Enable the Client Clipboard and setting debugging options?

Answer 108

Have to select the "Enable debugging" check box in the advance tab of mobile build tab.

Question 109

What happens if an offline-enabled mobile app fails to synchronize data after reconnecting to the server?

Answer 109

Pega platform generates a PEGA0066 alert.

Question 110

Suppose we try to login to mobile app and received “HTTP Basic authentication failed error” during login. What could be the root cause for this issue?

Answer 110

This issue applies only if the Oracle WebLogic web application server is used by the Pega Platform. To overcome it, set the following Oracle SOA 11g partner link binding property to true (oracle.webservices.preemptiveBasicAuth=true)

Question 111

How do you debug an offline-enabled custom mobile app?

Answer 111

Have to enable the log level settings for following class to debug (com.pega.pegarules.session.internal.mgmt.autostreams.packaging.PackageRunti)me

Question 112

How do you prevent custom mobile apps from being closed in Android?

Answer 112

Have to open pyKeepAliveTimeout Declare Expression rule and set the value of the keep-alive timeout to 0 (to turn the feature off)

Question 113

You are working on mobile app and received the below error stacktrace: - ERROR ITMS-90032: Invalid Image Path – No image found at the path referenced under key ‘CFBundleIcons’: ‘AppIcon20x20’ What could be the root cause of this issue? How do you resolve?

Answer 113

The possible root could be a Missing icon for the device. You can add missing icons to the "asset.zip" file to fix the issues.

Question 114

What is data page?

Answer 114

Data pages store data that the system needs to populate work item properties for calculations or for other processes. Note -known as “declare pages” and “declarative pages” in Pega 7

Question 115

What happens when the system references a Data Page?

Answer 115

The data page either creates an instance of itself (on the Clipboard) and loads the required data in it (for the system to use); or responds to the reference with an existing instance of itself.

Question 116

Your business user reported that they are facing slowness while accessing a grid. You found that the grid is sourced from a data page. How you will you conclude that declare page is causing the slowness?

Answer 116

Most likely will see a "PEGA0024 ALERT" in the log, which will indicate about the same.

Question 117

Where in Clipboard will you find Read-only Data Page and Editable Data Page?

Answer 117

Read-only will appear under Data Page list, and Editable under User Page

Question 118

What are the different Data Page structures?

Answer 118

There are two types : - Page (contain single object) - List (contain multiple objects)

Question 119

What are the various scopes for Data Page?

Answer 119

There are 3 scopes: Thread, Requestor and Node (server)

Question 120

What is a Thread based Data Page?

Answer 120

Treated in single requestor thread, and accessed as often as needed in the thread

Question 121

What Requester based Data Page?

Answer 121

Requester can access the page loaded across all threads

Question 122

What is the disadvantage of Editable Data Page?

Answer 122

They can't have a refresh strategy, and can only have thread and requester

Question 123

Your business wants to source data for the data page from two locations one will serve as primary and other as secondary. Can you achieve it?

Answer 123

Yes, provided we define a When rule (which evaluates a condition to decide which source should be picked up) for supplying the data.

Question 124

What are the various sources you can define in a Data Page?

Answer 124

Connector, Activity, Data Transform, Look-up and Report Definition

Question 125

A developer complained that he can't see the "look up" as an option for a data page source. What could be the reason?

Answer 125

"Look up" can only be used as a data source for page-structure data pages. So possibly he forgot to select that.

Question 126

What are the various refresh strategies of Data Page?

Answer 126

- Can choose to reload once per interaction | - Can specify when we don't want this refresh to happen or how long it can wait before getting refreshed

Question 127

Is it possible to use Page Remove to remove the data page?

Answer 127

No

Question 128

When does the Data Page gets removed from system?

Answer 128

It depends on various page types: - For node scope, it gets removed only upon server shut down - For thread scope, it get removed when requestor of that thread logs out

Question 129

What is Node based Data Page?

Answer 129

Any requester executing on the current node can access the pages

Question 130

What is NLP?

Answer 130

NLP is a reference application that showcases the text analytics capabilities of the Pega 7 Platform

Question 131

How many text analyzers does PEGA provide for Intelligent Virtual Assistant for Facebook?

Answer 131

5: Pre-NLP, In Case escapes, Global NLP, Post NLP, Simple NLP

Question 132

What does Simple NLP do?

Answer 132

Case-sensitive text analyzer that interprets the exact text entered in the message and compares it to the literal names of commands.

Question 133

Can you modify Simple NLP?

Answer 133

It is recommended not to modify it

Question 134

What is Post NLP?

Answer 134

Manages commands that have special functions after the message has been received

Question 135

What is Global NLP?

Answer 135

When the customer is not in the middle of a service case. All queries/responses and case commands should be provided for this NLP taxonomy.

Question 136

What is In-Case NLP?

Answer 136

It is used for circumstances where the user is in the middle of a service case

Question 137

What is Pre-NLP?

Answer 137

Manages the status of an Intelligent Virtual Assistant for Facebook Messenger to understand whether the Messenger is currently in the middle of a service case or is interacting with a live agent.

Question 138

How can you configure NLP?

Answer 138

Use either a rule-based model or free-text model.

Question 139

What is the benefit of NLP?

Answer 139

NLP makes it possible for you to classify content that is posted on social media (in the form of tweets, posts, comments, messages, and so on) into various categories to make that content easy to sort and manage

Question 140

Your client wants to upload their custom NLP taxonomy. What are the columns the CSV file must contain ?

Answer 140

Primary, Second, Should words, Must words, And words, Not words, Child match, and Node type

Question 141

What is the significance of Should words column in NLP's CSV file?

Answer 141

This column is very important for category assignment. If the text analyser encounters any of the words or phrases that are in this column, the text analyser assigns the content to the corresponding category

Question 142

What is the significance of Must words column in NLP's CSV file?

Answer 142

You can narrow down your categorization conditions by specifying the words that the content must contain to be assigned to the corresponding category.

Question 143

What is Node type column in NLP's CSV file?

Answer 143

The values in this column indicate whether a row is a category or not

Question 144

What are the some of the best practices of creating NLP taxonomy?

Answer 144

- Create an exhaustive list of categories - Test your taxonomy - Maintain taxonomy regularly

Question 145

A developer is trying to commit in an activity but getting a error saying the property has been truncated. What could be the issue?

Answer 145

Commit method takes 4 mandatory properties (ObjClass, ClassName,InsKey and InsName). If any one of these four properties contains a value that is longer than the width of the database column, the system associates a warning message.

Question 146

You did a commit and then ran a report definition. The report fetched the data with (+) symbol in it? What could be the reason?

Answer 146

While doing a commit, if properties contains a value that is longer than the width of the database column, then though the data get saved, the system changes the last character of the truncated value to a plus sign (+) character

Question 147

What are some of the best practices about commit?

Answer 147

- Commit method should occur only after errors are intercepted, checked, and corrected. - It should include a transition in the Commit step that checks the status

Question 148

You are performing a commit operation but it is taking long time at DB end, what properties will you check?

Answer 148

- Performance tool report on Commit operations - Elapsed time writing to the database (property Code-Pega-PAL.pxCommitElapsed) - Database Commit Count (property Code-Pega-PAL.pxCommitCount) - Database Rows Committed (property Code-Pega-PAL.pxCommitRowCount)

Question 149

Can a regular rule use End Validate method ?

Answer 149

No, it is for custom rules

Question 150

When is Flow-end method used ?

Answer 150

This method is used to immediately end a flow execution, before execution reaches a Flow-End shape. Used mostly to handle exceptional situations.

Question 151

Give an example where you will use Queue For Agent method?

Answer 151

This method stores a request for processing as a persistent object (entry) in the system queue. So it is used if there is an application need to queue an agent for processing

Question 152

Can we use any other alternatives of Queue for Agent method?

Answer 152

Your application can call the standard activity @baseclass.QueueForAgent,

Question 153

What is default value for "maxAttemps" in Queue For Agent method?

Answer 153

1

Question 154

You have defined "maxAttempts" as 2 (in Queue For Agent method) and the agent failed 2 time. What will happen next?

Answer 154

If the agent attempts to process the entry this number of times without success, it keeps the item in the queue but changes its status to Broken-Process

Question 155

Is it required to define "MinimumAgeforProcessing" in Queue For Agent method?

Answer 155

It is important to ensure that a user releases all work item locks before an agent attempts to process the queue entry. To address this requirement, configure a small delay with the MinimumAgeForProcessing parameter. The default value is 0, which means the agent can process a queue entry immediately

Question 156

As a user, you are trying to fix broken item but facing an insufficient privilege error. What could be the reason?

Answer 156

Users who hold the @baseclass. ReconcileBrokenQueueItems privilege can re-submit or delete broken queue items. If you don't have it you can't work on it.

Question 157

Your business needs to reload the entire session without logging off. How will you achieve it?

Answer 157

When you want to reload, this requires reload of thread page. So I would go for "Thread Clear" method. It will clear the Thread pages for your current session, except for any pages specified in the "KeepPages" parameter

Question 158

Will Thread-clear method also clear the worklist?

Answer 158

Depends on whether the "EmptyTaskLists" is selected or not. If selected, it will clear activity worklist

Question 159

Consider a situation where a developer has used Obj-Open but forgot to select the option of ReleaseOnCommit. You are working on something else and faced an unusual situation of being unable to use the page because it is locked. How will you proceed?

Answer 159

Opt for "Page-Unlock" method to release a lock that is no longer needed

Question 160

Which one will you prefer, Obj-Save or Commit?

Answer 160

Obj-Save is preferable. Use this method to request that the system saves a Clipboard page to the PegaRULES database or (if the page belongs to an external class) an external database. You can reverse the effect of an Obj-Save method (if it has not yet been committed) with the Obj-Save-Cancel or the Rollback method.

Question 161

Can you do Obj-Save with write now for a trigger type activity?

Answer 161

No

Question 162

What is the difference between Obj-Save and RDB-Save ?

Answer 162

RDB-save saves the contents of a Clipboard page into a row of a relational database. Use Connect SQL rules and the RDB-Save method only with an external database. Note - do not use Connect SQL rules or RDB methods to update the PegaRULES database. Note - because not all properties in the Pega 7 Platform databases are distinct database columns, use the Obj-Open and Obj-Save methods, not the RDB- methods, with the PegaRULES database to prevent loss of data.

Question 163

What is "RuninParallel" indicates in RDB-Save?

Answer 163

When the "RunInParallel" box is selected, the SQL operation occurs in a new requestor session. This temporary requestor has the same access group and Clipboard as the original.

Question 164

How many parallel threads can be spun off via RDB Save?

Answer 164

Max 10

Question 165

A developer complains about seeing a log entry that says “Obj-Save is trying to write to a non-existent column”. What could be the reason?

Answer 165

This error can occur when two different PRPC database schema are present in the same database, but the "Data-Admin-DB-Table" instances do not explicitly identify which schema to use.

Question 166

Can we delete external database row?

Answer 166

Yes. Use RDB-Delete, to delete a row or rows from an external relational database using SQL

Question 167

What is the significance of "pxMethodStatus" and "pxMethodStatusInfo" properties?

Answer 167

Most methods update the "pxMethodStatus" property on the pxThread page (with a status that starts with Good, Warn, or Fail). These three values are prefixes to a message key that is looked up as a field value rule. Optionally, your activities can place additional information about an error or result in the property named "pxMethodStatusInfo".

Question 168

Give two examples when an Obj-Save can fail?

Answer 168

- You cannot save a page that is locked by another requestor - You cannot save pages of any class derived from the "Code-" base class or the "Embed-" base class.

Question 169

When do you use "Obj-Refresh-and-Lock" method?

Answer 169

Use this method to assure that the contents of the step page are current, and a lock is held on the corresponding object. This is useful if you are not certain whether the contents of the step page are current or whether your requester session already holds a lock on the page.

Question 170

Can Obj-Refresh and lock fail?

Answer 170

If the object is locked and the lock has not expired, this method has no effect

Question 171

One developer forgot to check the Release On Commit checkbox? How you can retain the lock?

Answer 171

Use Page-Unlock method.

Question 172

What is LockInfoPage?

Answer 172

As a debugging aid, identifies the name of a page (to be created by this method) to hold the results of the locking attempt when it fails. By convention, this page is named LockInfo in standard rules

Question 173

How does the system determines whether the current Clipboard page is stale or not?

Answer 173

Compares the last update time stamp of the instance on the step page on the Clipboard (property pxUpdateDateTime) with the pxUpdateDateTime time stamp of the instance on the database. If the times are the same, the Clipboard copy is not stale; if they differ, the Clipboard copy is stale. DateTime values are captured to the nearest millisecond.

Question 174

Can we update rule instance via Obj Refresh and Lock?

Answer 174

No

Question 175

What is activity?

Answer 175

Sequential processing unit of Pega. Consists of one or more steps

Question 176

Where are local variables stored?

Answer 176

Local variables are stored together as fields in the Java class (that PEGA generates) to implement the activity.

Question 177

Is there any property that holds the reference of the iteration inside a loop of activity?

Answer 177

Yes. "pyIterationTarget" does it. For page and repeat types, it is blank. For embedded, it is the step page reference

Question 178

When do you use << current >> ? Give an example.

Answer 178

The symbolic reference can be used only in the activity step that defines the iteration. For example - for a repeat type of for-each embedded list, refers to the Clipboard Page of the current iteration. For other repeat types, refers to the index number of the current iteration, and corresponds to the "pyForEachCount" parameter

Question 179

How many ways you can achieve looping in an activity?

Answer 179

We can get it done in five ways: - For each top level page - For each embedded page - For each element in value list - For each element in value group - For loop

Question 180

What is the significance of template in activity?

Answer 180

Selecting a template automatically sets the activity type The following options are available: - Route - Locate - Trigger - Utility

Question 181

Is there any alternate way to achieve same result like activity?

Answer 181

Although we can't tell that PEGA has rules which work just like activity, we have some other mechanism to achieve similar results like activity: - Use data transform - Use Linked property - Change work item status in flow

Question 182

Can you explain how activity works?

Answer 182

When a requestor session runs an activity for the first time, the system converts information from the activity into Java, compiles the Java, and executes it. Later executions (of the same activity in the same ruleset, version, and so on) reuse the compiled Java

Question 183

If a lock is held and you perform a commit, what will happen to it?

Answer 183

All locks held by the requester Thread will be released

Question 184

What happens when a commit occurs in activity?

Answer 184

The system commits all deferred write operations (including deletes) for this requestor in the queue to the database. If any of the writes fail, they all fail

Question 185

Can you do commit for a work- class or @baseclass?

Answer 185

Yes, but it will issue a warning.

Question 186

Is it advisable to use commit in a utility type activity?

Answer 186

No. Flow processing performs commits automatically when the flow ends

Question 187

Which method will you use to load a data page?

Answer 187

Preferably "Call-Async" activity, which loads a data page and run asynchronously

Question 188

As a developer, what would you prefer to use, Activity Exit or Activity End?

Answer 188

Ideally, Activity Exit is widely used. But if business demands something which can be fulfilled with methods like Activity End, then we have to use that.

Question 189

What is the difference between Activity End and Activity Exit?

Answer 189

The Exit-Activity method ends the current activity and returns control to the calling activity. If no calling activity exists, the system starts the next activity in the activity list. But Activity End aborts all the activities in the stack.

Question 190

What is the usage of Activity End ?

Answer 190

If there is a need to terminate all the activities in a call stack, then we can use this method. For example - if one activity calls another activity that executes the Activity-End method, both activities end; the system does not return to the calling activity

Question 191

What are the methods that do not need a step page ?

Answer 191

- Obj-Open - Obj-Open-By-Handle - Obj-Refresh-And-Lock - Page-Change-Class - Page-Merge-Into - RDB-Open

Question 192

A developer is trying to pass a parameter as a local variable to another activity, is it advisable?

Answer 192

No. You can't do this. You will end up getting an error when saving the activity.

Question 193

Why would you prefer to use a local variable?

Answer 193

Local variables require less memory and execute faster than regular parameters. They are often used to pass information from step to step.

Question 194

You are creating an activity and entered into a loop, can you perform Obj-Refresh and Lock via a loop?

Answer 194

No

Question 195

What is a handle?

Answer 195

The handle of an instance is a unique key, in an internal format, assembled by the system that identifies an instance in the PegaRULES database

Question 196

What would you prefer to have "Obj-Open" or "Obj-Open-By-Handle"?

Answer 196

Use the Obj-Open-By-Handle method only if you can determine the unique handle that permanently identifies which instance to open. Otherwise, use the Obj-Open method.

Question 197

What is the difference between RDB-Open and Obj-Open?

Answer 197

Use RDB-Open method to retrieve a single row (record) of data from an external relational database and add the retrieved data into a specified clipboard page as property names and values. Use Connect-SQL rules and the RDB-Open method only with an external database. Do not use Connect-SQL rules or RDB methods to update the PegaRULES database(s) Use the Obj-Open method to open an instance stored in the PegaRULES database or in an external database linked to an external class, and save it as a Clipboard page.

Question 198

Can you use DB Trace for Connect-SQL Performance track?

Answer 198

Yes

Question 199

Suppose you are using Obj-Open and mentioned a step page, say PageA. Now at runtime, the clipboard already has some data in PageA. What will happen if Obj-Open Runs at that time?

Answer 199

If it finds the specified step page, the system clears any data that is on it and reuses the page. If no existing page has a name matching the specified step page, the system creates a new page.

Question 200

What is RDB-List method?

Answer 200

Use this method to retrieve rows from an external relational database and place the results as embedded pages in a specified step page of class

Question 201

Where in RDB- method you will specify the DB type?

Answer 201

Under the Package name

Question 202

Can you use declarative for RDB List?

Answer 202

Yes

Question 203

Is there any way to to determine whether a specific instance exists in the database ?

Answer 203

You can call the standard function rule "pxDoesHandleExist()" in the Utilities library

Question 204

What is Auto Queue Management (AQB)?

Answer 204

Available with Standard type of agents, AQM can help with requeing the item (just in case the agent fails to process a queue item) If you disable it then the agent will attempt only once to process the item, and in case of failure it will not retry

Question 205

What are the various node type available for agent?

Answer 205

There are four nodes: - Background Processing node (runs the agents on a background node) - BIX node (runs the agents on a BIX node for BIX jobs) - Search node (runs the agents on a search node for search jobs) - Web User node (runs the agents on a web user node for web user jobs)

Question 206

What is Queue Manager?

Answer 206

The Queue Manager is the internal server facility that supports queued items created by the Queue-for-Agent method. Agents with a Queue Method value of Standard (on the Schedule tab of the agents rule form) use the Queue Manager.

Question 207

How do you start and stop an agent from Queue Manager?

Answer 207

Use SMA/Landing page tools to start up or stop agents

Question 208

Can you control which version of agent to run in Queue Manager?

Answer 208

The Agent Manager does not use rule resolution to determine which version of an agents rule to run. The highest version always runs.

Question 209

Can you set an agent locale in Queue Manager?

Answer 209

No. The batch requestor honors the default server locale settings, including the default calendar.

Question 210

Which clock does an agent follow in Queue Manager?

Answer 210

Generally the server clock .

Question 211

Agents are just like users, which is automated in nature. Is there any difference with real time user?

Answer 211

Agents do not have an associated organization, division, or unit neither they have an associated business calendar

Question 212

Where will you find Node ID in Clipboard?

Answer 212

This identifier is stored on the process page as property "pxProcess.pxSystemNodeID", and is used in log files

Question 213

What is host name in Agent Nodes tab?

Answer 213

It is the server name of the node

Question 214

Why standard agent do not require an access group?

Answer 214

For standard agents, each queue item is processed in the authorization context of the user whose actions or processing (work item, assignment, and so on) generated the queue item.

Question 215

What is the significance of Auto Queue Management (AQM)?

Answer 215

When AQM is enabled, the system locks items that are retrieved from the queue by the agent until the agent is finished with the item (commit or rollback). If a transient condition means that the item cannot be processed (such as if the work item is locked), the system queues the item again and the agent can try processing it the next time it wakes up.

Question 216

What are the various modes of agent?

Answer 216

There are 3 types of modes: - Legacy (for old agents. This option is not available for agents created in PRPC 5.4 or later) - Standard (indicates that this agent processes items from an agent queue and that it relies on the system to provide object locking and other transactional support) - Advanced (indicates that this agent uses custom queuing. This is the option is recommended when the Pattern field is set to Startup)

Question 217

Business wants to configure the interval period of 10 seconds, how will you do that?

Answer 217

To configure an interval less than 30 seconds (and at least five seconds) create the agent/minimumwakeup environment variable in the prconfig.xml file.

Question 218

What are the patterns of agent in Queue Manager?

Answer 218

Generally 3 types: - Periodic agent (runs the activity and then sleeps for the number of seconds entered in the Interval column) - Recurring agent (runs the activity based on a specified calendar schedule (for example, every Monday at 5:00 PM) - Startup agent (runs the activity once at startup based on a specified parameter)

Question 219

What is the general wake time (for agents in AQM), and how to change it?

Answer 219

By default, this operation occurs every 10 minutes. This value can be updated in the prconfig.xml file setting:

Question 220

We often talk about automatic timeout. Who handles this?

Answer 220

Generally master agent monitors idle requestor sessions to enforce automatic timeouts.

Question 221

What is master agent (for Queue Manager)?

Answer 221

Master agents are background processes operating on each Pega Platform node that are not defined by agents rules

Question 222

You have to programmatically re-opens an assignment and redraw the flow action on the screen. Which API will you use?

Answer 222

Refresh(onSuccess,OnFailure). This works in perform harness.

Question 223

Can you finish an assignment via activity?

Answer 223

Yes, by using finishAssignment() API

Question 224

What is process API?

Answer 224

Process API consists of the rules for standard activities, flows, and flow actions that you can use to start and advance flows without using user forms.

Question 225

What is PEGA API?

Answer 225

Pega API powers client and mobile apps (by using built-in Pega REST services)

Question 226

What are the various Pega API categories?

Answer 226

There are around 6-7 Pega APIs: - Assignments - Authenticate - Cases - CaseType - Data - Docs - Users

Question 227

A developer complained that he is not able to access or work with Pega API. What could be the reason?

Answer 227

Check whether PegaRULES:PegaAPI and PegaRULES:PegaAPISysAdmin access role are added or not.

Question 228

What is Public API?

Answer 228

It is the supported public interface to the rules engine.

Question 229

What is Engine API?

Answer 229

Engine API sometimes refers to Public API is supported public interface to the rules engine

Question 230

What is Cross Origin Resource Sharing?

Answer 230

Cross-Origin Resource Sharing settings (in Pega 7) enable you to control and secure the use of the Pega API services embedded in your web or mobile client application. Configure these settings to permit Pega API access across domains you trust using the headers you specify.

Question 231

What is offline validation API?

Answer 231

The offline validation API consists of a JavaScript method that allows you to run a validate rule in offline-enabled applications.

Question 232

How you can use offline validation API?

Answer 232

We can use it by running a script action or a custom JavaScript function.

Question 233

How can you control the work object history written to the audit trail?

Answer 233

Update the system setting FilterHistory with Write Some or Write ALL, then update the Decision Tree Work-FilterHistory to modify it

Question 234

How can you alter the history written for an old assignment?

Answer 234

History instances already written remain in the audit trail (can't be changed)

Question 235

You are system admin and want to track security related alert. Instead of screening through the entire Log, is there an easy way to segregate the same?

Answer 235

The Alert Security log contains alerts (named “SECUnnnn”) specific to security issues. So watch out for those log.

Question 236

Name few tools that can be used to monitor garbage control for your application?

Answer 236

PMAT and JMETER

Question 237

Is there anyway to determine the Clipboard size?

Answer 237

There are multiple ways to view Clipboard size: - Run PAL > Perform typical user functions > Select “Add reading with Clipboard Size”. - Open Clipboard > Select Action > Analyze Clipboard - Select System Management Application > Requestor Management > Requestor Summary

Question 238

As an LSA, how will you estimate an application’s memory footprint?

Answer 238

You can estimate an application’s memory footprint by multiplying the size of the Clipboard by the peak number of users

Question 239

How will you understand that application is failing to collect garbage?

Answer 239

PEGA0028 alerts. The alert indicates a failed garbage collection attempt (the process failed to reduce the used memory in a particular memory pool below a specified threshold)

Question 240

Suppose you recommended the system admin to increase the heap size, but admin said it can't be possible. Is there any alternative to increase heap size?

Answer 240

If the heap size cannot be increased, lower the number of users per JVM (by adding an additional JVMs to the system)

Question 241

What will be your recommendation for agent in JVM?

Answer 241

Pega recommends using a separate virtual machine for agents, especially in multi-node Process Commander systems.

Question 242

What is AES?

Answer 242

AES monitors, gathers, and analyzes performance and health indicators from multiple SmartBPM systems across the enterprise. AES aggregates the most serious alerts and exceptions into work items (for use in a work flow) that can be assigned for diagnosis and resolution. AES consolidates and summarizes the Pega log and the JVM GC log (which provide key information about each of the monitored nodes)

Question 243

What is the ideal size of Clipboard?

Answer 243

The Clipboard should be no larger than 6 MB on average, and no single Clipboard page or repeating pages should exceed 5 MB

Question 244

What is the recommended DB query running time?

Answer 244

No single database query should exceed 5 seconds of CPU.

Question 245

What is the recommended Maximum bytes of data sent from browser to server?

Answer 245

15 MB on an average .

Question 246

Is there any limit for Maximum declaratives executed (all types)?

Answer 246

Yes. The best practice says, it should not be more than 45K

Question 247

What is the ideal Maximum CPU time?

Answer 247

180 Seconds (3 minutes)

Question 248

At a time, how many requestor Execution of RDB database operations is permitted?

Answer 248

8000

Question 249

Imagine a hacker tried to attack the system, but system prevented it. As an admin, how will figure it out?

Answer 249

You will see an alert SECU0006.

Question 250

Which alert suggest that there was an unauthorized access for user session termination API?

Answer 250

SECU0013

Question 251

Name few performance related alerts?

Answer 251

PEGA0001 : HTTP interaction time exceeds limit PEGA0002 : Commit operation time exceeds limit PEGA0005 : Query time exceeds limit PEGA0011 : Total request time exceeds limit PEGA0018 : Number of PRThread Exceeds limit PEGA0033 : DB Query length has exceeded a specified threshold

Question 252

Your business wants to freeze the browser and challenge the user to enter user ID and password, if they keep the system idle for more than 10 min. How will you do that?

Answer 252

Enable the authentication timeout under the access group rule.

Question 253

What is BLOB caching?

Answer 253

BLOBs that are stored in table rows use the same buffer caching rules as the tabular row (as they reside in the same data block as the rows). By default, BLOBs stored out of the row use direct path reads and writes to store and retrieve data without caching.

Question 254

Do you recommend BLOB Removal?

Answer 254

Database tables which are the target for Rule-Declare-Index rules are candidates for optimization (by removing the pzPvStream (BLOB) column). For example - if work parties are used in work items and no customization is required, removing the pzPvStream column from the pc_index_workparty table can improve system performance.

Question 255

Where is cache stored?

Answer 255

Most caches are stored in the system memory (JVM) or on disk

Question 256

What is rule cache?

Answer 256

Rule cache holds data about the reads done from the PegaRULES database for rule classes. If the data is available in the database, the system retrieves the rule, stores it in the Rule cache, and then sends the rule information back to whichever process requested it.

Question 257

What if rule cache is not tuned properly?

Answer 257

An incorrectly sized Rules cache may bog down memory resources

Question 258

What is rule assembly cache?

Answer 258

Rules Assembly cache is used to minimize Java code generation and compilation mainly by tracking RuleSet lists and user entire.

Question 259

What is the significance of proper tuning of Rule assembly cache?

Answer 259

An improperly sized Rules Assembly cache can lead to repetitive and (sometimes) continuous rules assembly.

Question 260

What is Conclusion cache?

Answer 260

Part of Dictionary cache. It contains instances of Java objects (resulting from the Rules Assembly process) that were generated, instantiated, and then persisted to the database for future use

Question 261

What is Property Definition cache?

Answer 261

It is a cache of all the Rule-Obj-Property instances used by the system. This cache enhances system efficiency because properties are looked up frequently.

Question 262

Name a few caches stored in memory?

Answer 262

- Rule Cache - Rule Assembly Cache - Dictionary Cache.

Question 263

Name a few caches stored in Disk ?

Answer 263

- LookupList cache | - Static content cache.

Question 264

What do you mean by rule assembly?

Answer 264

Rules assembly is a technique for improving performance (by generating and compiling the Java code) that corresponds to a rule only when needed.

Question 265

What is static assembler?

Answer 265

The static assembler is a utility used to pre-assemble and cache the rules of an application.

Question 266

What is virtual rule table cache?

Answer 266

The Virtual rules table cache is the default caching setting for all Pega applications. It is automatically primed (during system startup) with rules that have been either statically assembled or built dynamically as they were used in the system.

Question 267

Is Application-Based-Assembly (ABA) caching still being used in Pega?

Answer 267

No, it is replaced by Virtual Rule Table Cache.

Question 268

What is look up list cache (LLC)?

Answer 268

The lookup list cache (LLC) is a cache of recent search results that are available for display and reuse.

Question 269

What is rule cache?

Answer 269

Rule cache contains recently found and non-found rules that are used to improve the performance of the engine, (especially during rule resolution searches). The system adds to the cache any rule that is read three or more times, however, for some rule types, a higher limit applies.

Question 270

What is database cache or system cache?

Answer 270

It is nothing but the rule cache .

Question 271

What are the rule types for which static content cache is stored?

Answer 271

Static content stored for these rule types: - Binary file rules (Rule-File-Binary rule type, for images such as JPG files) - Text file rules (Rule-File-Text rule type, for JavaScript and Cascading Style Sheet files) - Form file rules, for rule forms (Rule-File-Form rule type) - eForm file rules (Rule-File-eForm rule type, for PDF forms) - The location of the StaticContent directory is determined by a temporary files path setting in the prconfig.xml file.

Question 272

Is it advisable to clear production cache periodically?

Answer 272

If properly designed, an application should have high availability and high performance, even during extended periods of uptime. In a production setting, there are no requirements for periodic clearing of any cache.

Question 273

Is there any property to indicate whether rule cache is enabled in a particular node or not?

Answer 273

pxCacheEnabled is the property which shows the same

Question 274

What is pattern inheritance?

Answer 274

Pattern inheritance is an optional method where a class inherits characteristics from other classes and affects the first steps in the rule resolution algorithm. The name of the parent class is based on an initial portion or substring of the name of the class.

Question 275

What is directed inheritance?

Answer 275

Directed inheritance is the method by which a class inherits characteristics directly from a specified parent class, regardless of any defined pattern inheritance.

Question 276

Can you allow locking for concrete class?

Answer 276

For concrete classes that do belong to a class group, you have to leave the tab blank. The Lock field on the Class Group form controls locking for all the classes in the group.

Question 277

What is the significance of Allow Locking?

Answer 277

Allow Locking box causes the system to lock open instances of the class.

Question 278

Can you define a key when marking it as class group?

Answer 278

If you enter a class group, leave the Keys array empty. In this case, the class group instance defines a common key structure used by all associated classes.

Question 279

Can a developer set the availability of a class to "Final"?

Answer 279

No, Availability value for class rules is always "Yes".

Question 280

Can class be found via rule resolution?

Answer 280

The system does not use rule resolution or rule availability to find instances of the Rule-Obj-Class rule type. Choose class names that are unique system-wide, across all applications.

Question 281

What is ruleset restriction? Where you can see it?

Answer 281

We can see it in class ruleform. Use the list in this section to control which rules can be created with pyClassName set to this class name.

Question 282

Few of your developer complained that they are trying to enable the option “Dedicated table” but unable to do it. What could be the reason?

Answer 282

This feature is available only to users with the "@baseclass.pxClassToDbTableOptimization" privilege. So watch out whether they have sufficient privilege or not.

Question 283

Your application is running in production, and due to a new client requirement, you have to create a new work class and going forward all the work item will be part of that class. How do you ensure that the old class is not referred at all?

Answer 283

Check the "Deprecate" checkbox class rule form to deprecate all instances of this class and block users from creating new instances. Only classes with the "Does not belong to a class group" option selected can be deprecated.

Question 284

What is the primary role of Pega Decision? Management?

Answer 284

Helping to determine the Next-Best-Action

Question 285

What are the three key elements of NBA?

Answer 285

Listen, Learn, and Act

Question 286

Explain some of the key strategic business directions of NBA.

Answer 286

Few of the business directions tied up with NBA are: - Growth - Service - Retention - Risk mitigation.

Question 287

What are the various features of Pega Decision Management?

Answer 287

- Proposition Management - Decision Strategies - Interaction History - Visual Business Director - Adaptive Decision Manager - Predictive Analytics Director.

Question 288

What is proposition?

Answer 288

Anything that can be offered to a customer. (ie; advertising)

Question 289

Which one is safe: Adaptive or Predictive?

Answer 289

Predictive is safe

Question 290

What is a Sub Strategy?

Answer 290

A Next-Best-Action strategy is broken up into smaller strategies, called sub-strategies.

Question 291

How can you invoke a decisioning component in the BPM flow?

Answer 291

We can use the Data Flow Flow shape which usually invokes a decision strategy (via the Data Flow record)

Question 292

When do you typically want to use a decision management component?

Answer 292

When the business want to understand how to retain a customer and how much budget one should spend.

Question 293

You have to define a strategy for execution. Which shape you will use for that?

Answer 293

"Run interaction" shape can be used for this purpose

Question 294

What is switch component?

Answer 294

It is related to Pega’s DSM offering and typically used to arbitrate between two decision logics

Question 295

I want to set some offer properties. Where can I set it?

Answer 295

We can do it by navigating to the landing page related to proposition management

Question 296

What do you call the Business Rules that ensure that selected propositions have greater relevance to the customer?

Answer 296

Soft Rules

Question 297

How can we narrow down the number of results returned by an Interaction History component?

Answer 297

Based on outcome of previous interactions in the Interaction History component

Question 298

How can you upload a PMML file that contains a TreeModel model type?

Answer 298

Use the Predictive Model rule to upload all the PMML files.

Question 299

What are the six Key features of Decision management?

Answer 299

- Proposition Management - Decision Management - Interaction History - Adaptive Decision Manager (ADM) - Predictive Analytics Director (PAD) - Visual Business Director.

Question 300

Which report allows you to see how frequently the proposition is offered to the customer?

Answer 300

Proposition distribution report.

Question 301

What privilege is required to have to run simulations?

Answer 301

pyRunSimulations is generally being used for this.

Question 302

What is the need of Application overlay?

Answer 302

It is used for the direct deployment of the control parameters and the default Application overlay can not be deleted (It starts with "RTC- ")

Question 303

Suppose there is a scenario, where the company has launched a new phone and it must be the top offer for all the customers. How will you achieve that?

Answer 303

Increase the Marketing weight of the new phone in the decision parameters of the Propositions; if necessary, reduce the marketing weigh value for other products.

Question 304

What are the different steps involved in creating a predictive model in PAD portal?

Answer 304

- Data preparation - Data Analysis - Model Development - Model Analysis - Model Export.

Question 305

In the terms of Coefficient of Concordance, what does value of 50% and 100% represents?

Answer 305

50% – Random Distribution | 100% – Perfect Discrimination

Question 306

Let’s have a situation where one company started their organization and created an Adaptive model. They don’t have any customer response and data with them. What should be the optimal way to go ahead and use the adaptive model in their strategy?

Answer 306

Use the smooth propensity. Once the actual response arrives, actual propensity and smooth propensity converges.

Question 307

Client said that Strategy should only output propositions with Average margin higher than 200. How can you implement the requirement?

Answer 307

We can try by using Group By- Filter component. and use a Group by component to get the Average Margin and then use Filter component to filter the proposition based on the Average margin > 200.

Question 308

What privilege provides the user the ability "Monitor Interaction History" link from navigation page showing the Actual data source in the VBD, in the decision manger portal?

Answer 308

pyMonitorVBDActuals

Question 309

What privilege provides the user the ability to click on the Update reporting data link, which ensures that a new database snapshot is taken for adaptive reporting, in the Decision Manager portal?

Answer 309

pyUpdateADMReportingData

Question 310

What privilege do you use to create a role where the end user in the portal will only be able to change proposition data and nothing else?

Answer 310

Assign pyManagePropositionData in a custom role.

Question 311

What are the Name of the flows in Revision Management?

Answer 311

- Revision Management - Change-Request Management - Change Request Approval - Direct Deployment.

Question 312

Explain the concept of getNextWork?

Answer 312

It is an automated way of choosing the best, most appropriate assignment to work on next. User can see a button or link stating get next work in the portal. Upon clicking the button, Work-.GetNextWork gets called which in turn calls Work-.GetNextWorkObject. This checks the pyWorkBasketFirst property for the user. Based on whether it is true or false, it calls either findAssignmentinWorkbasket or findAssignmentinWorklist. At runtime, it also verifies whether merge workbasket option selected or not. Finally decision tree Assign-.GetNextWorkCriteria is applied to each assignment found. Then the GetNextWork activity creates and populates the newAssignPagepage, moves the assignment to the user’s worklist, and locks the work item.

Question 313

Business wants to skip specific types of work items to be picked by getNextWork. What you will suggest?

Answer 313

We can think of setting the GetNextWork_MoveAssignmentToWorklist system setting to false.

Question 314

A developer complained that despite having GetNextWork_MoveAssignmentToWorklist system setting to false still the outcome is not as expected. What could be the possible reason?

Answer 314

Perhaps the case might be using optimistic locking or it is getting called from REST API.

Question 315

What could be the possible reason that an assignment is not picked up by get next logic ?

Answer 315

If the assignment has pyActionTime in the future. or he operator already worked on it today. Also if the operator does not have required skill, the assignment will not be picked up.

Question 316

What are the extension points for getNextWork?

Answer 316

Two possible areas are: - finAssignmentInWorkBasket activity - getNextWorkObject activity

Question 317

Explain the ways to debug getNextWork algorithm.

Answer 317

Any debugging should start with Tracer. So I would opt for Tracer and in the Tracer settings, under event type, will mention process engine so that at run time it captures only the engine related events. Post that from Tracer I can find out the SQL query which is used to retrieve the case .

Question 318

Business wants that as soon as user finish working on assignment, he should get the next assignment and not see the confirm harness. How will you achieve this?

Answer 318

In the flow action, upon assignment completion settings, change it to GetNextWork from the default Show Confirm Harness.

Question 319

Name the Decision Tree involved in the getNextWork logic?

Answer 319

GetNextWorkCriteria. It is an available rule and can be modified as per business needs.

Question 320

Your business workbasket contains cases with skills as: French,German and Japanese. Business wants to configure getNextLogic in such a way that it does not pick up the cases where the operator does not have required skills. How to do it?

Answer 320

Enable this system setting: "GetNextWork_SkipUnskilledAssignments"

Question 321

Business wants to enable getNextWork to assemble and sort assignment in any work queue for which the work group field is the same as workgroup of the operator. How do you do it?

Answer 321

In the operator ID rule form, enable the MergeWorkbasket and also check the use all workbasket assignments in users work group field.

Question 322

How do you lock the entire ruleset ?

Answer 322

Provide password under security tab

Question 323

Your client wants to disable search for some of the classes which contains confidential information. How will you do that?

Answer 323

We can configure it by clicking "Exclude this class from search?" on the Advanced tab of the Class form.

Question 324

You store attachments on a content management system. Can you configure indexing for that?

Answer 324

No

Question 325

Your business sometimes attaches huge attachments to the cases. You have noticed that indexing got hampered or slowed down due to this huge size. How best you can handle it?

Answer 325

On the Search landing page, we can specify the maximum size of attachments to index. Attachments that exceed the threshold are not indexed. This way we can control

Question 326

How can you configure search query timeouts?

Answer 326

By enabling the DSS: "indexing/distributed/search_timeout_millis"

Question 327

There is a need to rebuild indexes. But you are not able to access any rules on designer studio due to some indexing issue. Any alternate way to trigger indexing?

Answer 327

We can run reindexing by a direct connection to the database. We need to modify the common properties and index node properties of the "prpcUtils.properties" file and then run "prpcUtils.sh" script.

Question 328

How can you specify additional properties to index?

Answer 328

We can do it by creating a custom search property data instance.

Question 329

How can you use embedded properties in filters and new data instances?

Answer 329

By setting the DSS : "Indexing/useDataInstances" to true.

Question 330

Describe some of the disadvantages of full-text search?

Answer 330

It can Produce many results that require further review. It can disclose sensitive work item or work item attachment details to users who otherwise are not authorized to open or review such work. It can affect system performance doing indexing and searching.

Question 331

Name the sections that support full-text search?

Answer 331

- @baseclass.FindWork section | - @baseclass.SearchField section

Question 332

Which agent is responsible for the search and indexing?

Answer 332

PegaRules-System Indexer agent is responsible to do the indexing. It runs the standard activity Code-.SystemIndexer which updates the search index cache that supports the operations of the full-text search facility for rules and data instances.

Question 333

What is the frequency of the System Indexer agent run?

Answer 333

Typically, runs every 60 seconds

Question 334

What is elastic search?

Answer 334

Elastic search is a No-SQL database implementation for indexing and storing data that is based on the Lucene search index

Question 335

What is Stream processing?

Answer 335

Stream processing is the runtime conversion and evaluation that converts an HTML or XML text containing JavaServer Page (JSP) tags into a final form.

Question 336

Describe the processing sequence of Stream processing.

Answer 336

1) Assembles runtime Java, evaluating those tags or directives (e.g tag) that don’t involve the Clipboard contents. 2) Compiles the Java 3) Executes the Java to resolve Clipboard references and produce the final HTML (or XML).

Question 337

There is a need to programmatically add an element to the end a Value List or Page List property. How will you do that?

Answer 337

We can use .Something like .Year()

Question 338

How you can set or retrieve an element value from the end of a Value List or Page List?

Answer 338

We can use index. Something like .Year()=2017

Question 339

Generally in a year, Government holidays are fixed in any country. You maintain the holiday list in a page list. Now there is a new requirement that on election day offices should be closed. How can you accommodate the change so that the moment the election date is declared, office manager can modify the list quickly?

Answer 339

I can try Use the keyword. It takes an integer to insert a new element and its value into the Page List property at a numeric index position.

Question 340

What will happen to the value which is already present in the list at that position. For example, holiday(5)=Independence Day. Now you programmatically change it holiday(5)=Election Day. So what will happen to Independence day?

Answer 340

Any elements with the same or higher index value are “pushed down” by one. So now, holiday(6)=Indepence Day

Question 341

How you can get the current index of the page list or page group property?

Answer 341

In data transform, also we can use the keyword

Question 342

When can top keyword be used in indexing?

Answer 342

To refer a property on the top-level page of the current context of an embedded page.

Question 343

How you can force release a lock ?

Answer 343

Lock information is held in the memory of each node, rather than in the database, for improved performance. However, even in a multinode system, a requestor can force the release of locks held by any session with the same Operator ID and same user name (pyUserName) through the PublicAPI method: LockManager.unlock(StringMap, boolean)

Question 344

What debugger can will use to troubleshoot Lock related issues ?

Answer 344

com.pega.pegarules.engine.database.LockManagerImpl

Question 345

What is soft lock?

Answer 345

An expired or “soft” lock remains held by a requestor session until the session releases it or until the requester session ends, but a soft lock can be stolen — broken and acquired — by another requester who opens the instance. In that case, any updates by the first user that are not committed are lost.

Question 346

How long can a lock be held?

Answer 346

Generally, a thread that acquires a lock retains it until the instance is saved again with a Commit method (which may complete an Obj-Save or Obj-Delete method). However the system automatically expires locks held longer than a specified timeout period. You can change the default timeout interval of 30 minutes to a longer or shorter period. This value is stored in the Data-Admin-System data instance.

Question 347

What is lock string?

Answer 347

A lock string uniquely identifies a lock. For instances that belong to classes not associated with a class group, the text string consists of the class name concatenated with the key parts of the object (determined on the Keys area of the Basics tab of the Class form, or the Locking tab of the Class form).

Question 348

What is the significance of LockInfo Page ?

Answer 348

If a method failed to acquire a lock because the object is already locked, information on this page identifies the current requestor session that holds the lock. By convention, this page is named LockInfo in standard rules.

Question 349

What are the methods that require acquiring a lock?

Answer 349

- Obj-Open - Obj-Open-by-Handle - Obj-Refresh-and-Lock

Question 350

A system admin wants to know whether there is any report which helps him to get the lock details or not. Can you assist him on this ?

Answer 350

To view all locks held by any requester: - Select Designer Studio > Process and Rules > Tools > Work Admin > All Locks > Drill down to identify the details of the locked object > Hold the mouse pointer over a row of the drill-down detail (to identify the Operator ID of the requester holding the lock.)

Question 351

When can a requester acquire a lock?

Answer 351

A requestor can lock an open instance if all of the following are True: - The instance belongs to a concrete class that has "Allow Locking?" selected in the class rule. - The instance has never been saved and committed to the PegaRULES database. The requestor has an access role that conveys the privilege needed.

Question 352

What do you mean by locking?

Answer 352

Locks are exclusive to one Thread, and operate system-wide in a multinode system

Question 353

What is a pinging service?

Answer 353

You can verify whether a Pega 7 Platform instance is up and running by entering this URL: http://<>/PRRestService/monitor/pingservice/ping The Pega 7 Platform Engine responds with HTTP Response "Code 200" if the instance is available

Question 354

What is requestor passivation?

Answer 354

Requestor passivation is a best practice; it is a built-in feature that writes out the memory footprint of idle user sessions to the file system. This frees up valuable memory for the more active users.

Question 355

What is the default value of requestor passivation and how do you change it?

Answer 355

In a production setting, the default timeout setting of 60 minutes is usually too long. Change it via pre-configuration or DSS

Question 356

Your company wants to retain data in log file for 60 days, is there a way to set the value in PRPC ?

Answer 356

In prconfig.xml

Question 357

What is the recommended production level for development and production?

Answer 357

Use a production level of 2 for development systems and 5 for production systems

Question 358

There is a requirement that each time an SLA agent successfully processes an assignment, it refreshes the retrieved item list (retrieves a new list of assignments). How will you do that ?

Answer 358

We will set the SLA system setting: "SLARefreshListEachIteration" to true

Question 359

What is the default number of assignments the SLA agent processes during its interval? and how do you update it?

Answer 359

Default value is 20 and you can modify the system setting: "SLAUnitsToProcess"

Question 360

What is the significance of SLAUnitsToRetrieve?

Answer 360

This setting specifies the number of assignments the SLA agent retrieves for processing. It reflects the number of events handled for each type. Therefore, if this entry is set to “5”, the SLA agent could potentially process up to 15 assignments (5 each for goal deadline and past deadline)

Question 361

What is recommended for multinode system?

Answer 361

For multi-node systems, it is recommended that the number of assignments retrieved be much smaller, so that contention is reduced

Question 362

What is the significance of PEGA0001 alert?

Answer 362

The default threshold for HTTP interactions is 1 second. If a particular screen takes more time to render, the system writes alert PEGA0001 to the alert log.

Question 363

How do you enable database alerts ?

Answer 363

To identify database queries, which return large amounts of data, and thus are candidates for tuning, set the Byte Threshold. This feature is off by default. The warning threshold "warnMB" writes a stack trace to the alert log. The error threshold "errorMB" writes a stack trace and additionally halts the requestor. Thus, setting the warnMB entry to 10 will provide insight into which queries are requesting 10MB or more of data.

Question 364

Briefly explain the steps you will follow if you face an out-of-memory (OOM) exception?

Answer 364

The first step is to set the context right, try to gather information of the following: - What type of system is experiencing this problem, e.g. development, test, or production - What versions of Process Commander, the application server, operating system, database, and JVM are in use? - What is the current usage of this system? - When did this problem begin and/or when was it first noticed? - What if anything changed in the environment on or around the time the problem first started - Has anything been done to remedy the problem thus far? Gather supportive debug data: - Verbose GC - JVM Setting - Pega RULES and ALERT Log file - Identify the root cause

Question 365

What is PermGen?

Answer 365

The permanent generation is used by the Sun JVM to store objects that are long lived, and to house certain internal JVM cache structures

Question 366

What is message related to PermGen error?

Answer 366

A permanent generation exhaustion has a special OutOfMemory exception message: java.lang.OutOfMemoryError: PermGen spac

Question 367

How do you resolve PermGen issue?

Answer 367

Increase the space and check whether it is at recommended value or not

Question 368

What is Maximum ClassLoaders Exceeded Exceptions (IBM JVMs)?

Answer 368

When you face an error like this "ERROR: The failure was caused because the class loader limit(-Xmxcl) was exceeded. Please set –Xmxcl to value or greater." It happens due to the built-in limit on the number of ClassLoaders that it permits in a JVM.

Question 369

How do you address Native OOM exceptions?

Answer 369

Native OutOfMemory exceptions occur when the JVM process has exhausted the memory areas dedicated to native operations. So verify the memory allocation and act accordingly.

Question 370

How do you prevent this Native OOM exception?

Answer 370

Generally, the more memory allocated to the main JVM heap, the less that is available for native operations. So allocate memory carefully.

Question 371

What are standard OOM exception?

Answer 371

The standard OutOfMemory exception are: - Memory usage spike (A memory spike involves a requester (user or agent) requesting a large amount of memory space for objects) - Memory leak - Load exceeds capacity of system

Question 372

What is Memory usage spike?

Answer 372

A memory spike involves a requester (user or agent) requesting a large amount of memory space for objects

Question 373

What are the alert associated with OOM?

Answer 373

- PEGA0004 - PEGA0027 - PEGA0029 - PEGA0035

Question 374

How do you estimate the number of JVMs needed for a particular business solution?

Answer 374

It depends on 3 factors: - Number of service requestors - Decision requestor - Estimated concurrent users

Question 375

Does SMA require a separate JVM or not?

Answer 375

Yes, SMA and Agents must have separate JVM

Question 376

How much memory is required for Pega 7 caches?

Answer 376

Around 200- 250 MB

Question 377

What is total PermGen and native memory required for Pega 7?

Answer 377

Around 2 GB

Question 378

What is the total recommended memory size for Pega 7?

Answer 378

Around 1 GB

Question 379

For a typical Pega 7 environment, what will be the recommended Heap size?

Answer 379

Somewhere around 8 GB to 16 GB depends on usage and application load.

Question 380

Can you tell me some of the best practices for maintaining a healthy DB for Pega?

Answer 380

- Perform daily statistics-gathering on the database - Correctly size initial database and size growth rate to prevent a slow, fragmented database - Ensure connection pooling is properly sized. - Avoid creating an index for a single column. Instead, examine the most common and the most time-consuming queries and create multiple-column indexes for them - Create Declare Indexes for embedded properties if they need to be exposed for lookup and reporting - Enable Purge and Archive for WorkHistory , WorkList and WorkBasket tables - Wherever possible, construct queries in ways that do not require full table scans.

Question 381

Is exposing large number of properties a good idea?

Answer 381

The more exposed columns, and the more native database indexes you have, the more expensive the each read, update, or delete operation becomes. Consider involving a DBA who is familiar with of the fine art of database tuning

Question 382

How to enable UDF Lookup in JSP?

Answer 382

Create a dynamic system setting named "prconfig/cache/enableForlookup Owning RuleSet value — always Pega-Engine Set the Value to true

Question 383

You made some changes in DSS but did not see the outcome, tell one common reason why this can happen?

Answer 383

You might have forgotten to restart the server, which is required. Also, check the owning ruleset whether that is correct or not.

Question 384

Is it possible to set the number of Database retries?

Answer 384

Yes, it is possible to set between 0 to 3 for both PegaRULE and PegaDATA schema

Question 385

What are the types of reports?

Answer 385

There are two types of report definition reports: summarized reports and list reports.

Question 386

What is a summarized report?

Answer 386

It is type of report that display summary counts, totals, or averages.

Question 387

What are the built-in functions available in summarized report?

Answer 387

- COUNT() - COUNT DISTINCT() - SUM() - AVG() - MIN() - MAX()

Question 388

Where are report results stored ?

Answer 388

On a Clipboard page (typically of class Code-Pega-List).

Question 389

Name few areas where you can reference the report?

Answer 389

- Data page - Read-only grid - Autocomplete - Radio buttons

Question 390

Can we create a report definition directly on an external class?

Answer 390

No. We cannot use an external class as the Apply to class.

Question 391

How do you create a report on a framework class that can dynamically report on implementation classes?

Answer 391

Select the concrete Apply to class in the framework, and select the Report on descendent classes check box when creating the report.

Question 392

A developer reported that he is not able to see all the ruleset when trying to create a report?

Answer 392

Each class can restrict applying rules to an explicit set of rulesets as specified on the Advanced tab of the class form.

Question 393

Can we have Declare Index rule as a column in Report Definition?

Answer 393

If your application has Declare Index rules, you can choose one of the properties in the Declare Index as a column.

Question 394

A developer complained about seeing a warning about unoptimized property usage while saving a report, but he does not want to expose the column. What best he can do?

Answer 394

Reports that use unoptimized properties in filters or selects result in a warning message in the Report Editor or the report definition. One option could be you can use a linked property to populate a column instead.

Question 395

How will you see the list of all ruleset involved in your application along with their prerequisite ?

Answer 395

We can see it from the Application landing page.

Question 396

What is the significance of having validation mode?

Answer 396

It guarantees that rules referenced are available on target system and accessible at runtime.

Question 397

How many types of ruleset validations are present?

Answer 397

Application and Ruleset validation

Question 398

Can you explain what is Application validation?

Answer 398

It reference all rules in a ruleset that is defined in the same application or a ruleset that belongs to any built-on application

Question 399

A developer ask whether their branch ruleset can access other ruleset in the branch if validation is on?

Answer 399

Yes they can do.

Question 400

You are not using application validation, however, the built-on application rulesets are using application validation. Can you access the rules present in the other application?

Answer 400

No, can't. The logic is written accordingly so that it restricts the access.

Question 401

As a system administrator, you have created a version 06-10-15 of your ruleset. One developer complains that they can't access the 05-01-01 anymore. Is it a bug?

Answer 401

No, this is not a bug. It is expected behavior. Each user or other requestor can access rules in only one major version of a ruleset

Question 402

You have locked a ruleset version. What are the changes you can still achieve in your application?

Answer 402

Typically 3 changes can still do: - Change to class rule - Adding or Modifying ruleset versions - Modifying the ruleset

Question 403

Your business has expressed concern about the password being saved in database, which is accessible by developers. What you will do to bypass it?

Answer 403

Will explain that Operator ID passwords are saved as hashed values in the PegaRULES database, using the bcrypt (default) algorithm. Otherwise, they can go for LDAP, which will then ignore the operator rule form password and take network password.

Question 404

What is Access Group?

Answer 404

It restricts access to functionality within your application

Question 405

What if one forgot to mention the Access Group in Operator ID?

Answer 405

If the Access Group field is blank, the system instead uses the Access Group identified in the Org-Division associated with the Operator ID. If that also is blank, the access group in the Organization data instance is used, If that is also blank then it uses the Access Group identified in the Browser requestor type.

Question 406

Your business wants to freeze the browser and challenge the user to enter user ID and password if they keep the system idle for more than 10 min. How will you do that?

Answer 406

We will enable the authentication timeout under the access group rule.

Question 407

What is rule resolution?

Answer 407

Rule resolution is the internal process by which PRPC decides at runtime which rule (of a set of candidate rules) to execute.

Question 408

What happens when Rule Resolution Algorithm finds multiple eligible rules?

Answer 408

It returns a “Multiple Rule Version Exception” error.

Question 409

Explain the Rule Resolution algorithm.

Answer 409

1) Check the rule cache (if the rule is present in the cache, go to Step 8) 2) Choose all instances with correct purpose 3) Discard rules where Availability = No/Draft 4) Discard inapplicable RuleSets and Versions 5) Discard all candidates not defined on a class in the “ancestor tree” 6a) Rank remaining candidates by: - Class - RuleSet - Circumstance - Circumstance Date - Date/Time; - Remove all that are withdrawn or hidden by other withdrawn candidates 6b) Discard all choices that occur in the ranked list after the first “default” rule 7) Set the cache 8) Find best instance (and check to make sure there is not a duplicate) 9) Check that Availability does not show BLOCKED 10) Security – Verify that the user is authorized to see the rule

Question 410

Can you explain the concept of LightWeight List in PEGA?

Answer 410

A lightweight list is an internal structure used by the page list property. It is called “lightweight” because its efficient structure requires less CPU memory and processing than traditional page lists. It does not duplicate the metadata defined for each element, therefore consuming far less memory and processing.

Question 411

Where is LightWeight List used ?

Answer 411

Obj-Browse and Look up

Question 412

Any DSS we need to enable for LightWeight List?

Answer 412

Yes. Two dynamic system settings control the use of lightweight lists: - clipboard/lightWeightList/enableForCorePRPCRules - clipboard/lightWeightList/enableForCustomerRules This setting overrides the setting in the Use Lightweight List checkbox for your rules.

Question 413

What are the limitations of LightWeight list?

Answer 413

Forward chaining is not possible (references can't be established)

Question 414

What is Static Assembler utility?

Answer 414

It enables the pre-assembly and caching of rules that belong to an application. These actions improve the response time for interactive users after a system startup or when new ruleset versions are imported into the system.

Question 415

What is the recommended way to run Static Assembler utility?

Answer 415

Run the Static Assembler from the "/scripts/utils" directory within the extracted application installation directory.

Question 416

In Development environment, you have multiple developer operator IDs. When moving them to production, will you keep all of them? What is the best practice?

Answer 416

The best practice is to have only one or two system admin developer ID . Also, it is advisable not to have the "allow rule checkout" button enable to ensure optimal performance.

Question 417

What is the ideal order of shutting down nodes?

Answer 417

Non-search nodes > Secondary search nodes > Primary search node > All other nodes.

Question 418

Can you explain some of the key things to keep in mind while planning a load test?

Answer 418

- Do a load math calculation and design accordingly. - Set realistic user interactions, and consider adding think time. - Switch off virus checking. - Validate environment. - Prime the application first. - Ensure adequate data load.

Question 419

What are the various performance debug tools available in PEGA?

Answer 419

PAL, PLA, Clipboard, Tracer, DB Trace.

Question 420

What is the thumb rule of CPU Utilization for OS running PEGA ?

Answer 420

CPU utilization should never be more than 70% busy (due to PRPC itself)

Question 421

Is having too many ruleset is beneficial or not?

Answer 421

No. It unnecessary increase the overhead.

Question 422

Explain the concept of edge server.

Answer 422

If the server hosting your PRPC application is distant from your users, you can improve performance by deploying static PRPC content to a cache on an “edge server” (a local computer closer to your users)

Question 423

How do you enable PRPC to interact with edge server?

Answer 423

PRPC provides a placeholder activity (Code-Security.ApplicationProfileSetup) which is called during user login. Modify this activity to direct the remote users’ systems to the edge server for static PRPC content. The property "pyEdgeServerURI" identifies auto-generated static content references. This property is used at the requestor level and must be set to the path of the edge server in the activity.

Question 424

What are the various troubleshooting tools available in PEGA?

Answer 424

Tracer, Clipboard, Live UI, PAL,DBTrace, Alerts

Question 425

What is tracer buffer size?

Answer 425

During Tracer operation, the system by default saves unprocessed events in a temporary file called buffer.

Question 426

What is the default tracer buffer size? How we can change it?

Answer 426

Default is 500 items and can be changed via prconfig setting

Question 427

What are the various temporary directories present in PEGA?

Answer 427

- LLC : For look up - PRGenBackup : Backup copies of older versions of generated files in PRGenJava - PRGenClasses : Compiled Jave source code - PRGenJava : Java source code generated by rules assembly - StaticContent : Extracted images etc and JS CSS files

Question 428

What is Clipboard?

Answer 428

Clipboard is temporary memory area on the server that is associated with every connected pega 7 requestors

Question 429

Can an external requestor also be seen in Clipboard?

Answer 429

Yes we can see it.

Question 430

How will you identify the threads in Clipboard?

Answer 430

Named as per the tab name.

Question 431

Explain the page structure of the Clipboard?

Answer 431

Basically there are 7 groups of pages: - User pages (top level pages created by normal processing) - Data Pages (read-only defined by data pages rules) - Linked property pages (read-only retrieved whenever linked property is referred) - System pages (top level created pages during authentication, etc) - pxThread (thread page provides context of the page) - pxRequestor (contain info about access group role ruleset, etc) - pxProcess (contain info about JVM, etc)

Question 432

Can you execute an activity via Clipboard?

Answer 432

Yes. We can select any page from the clipboard and run an activity by making that page as primary page.

Question 433

What are the items not visible in Clipboard?

Answer 433

- Pz properties - Java object properties - Data page referenced by the rules in the current and built on application.

Question 434

Name some of the reserve pages?

Answer 434

- Local - Locate - Mode - Param - Parent - Primary top

Question 435

Which class is associated with PAL Reading?

Answer 435

Code-Pega-PAL

Question 436

In PAL, can you tell me the difference between Init, Full and Delta?

Answer 436

- Full (all activity since you signed on or clicked Reset) - Init link (activity at the time you most recently started the Performance tool, but not activity since that time) - Delta link (only incremental values between adjacent rows of the Performance report)

Question 437

How you can analyze the profiler data?

Answer 437

Can download the CSV file generated to analyze it further

Question 438

For the PAL, CPU Statistics, typically how many components can you see?

Answer 438

There are 3: Full, TotalsOnly and None

Question 439

What is the significance of pxTotalReqCPU ?

Answer 439

Total CPU time JVM responding to HTTP requests and to service requests.

Question 440

What are the typical things you can do using Performance Tool?

Answer 440

- Add reading - Measure Clipboard size - Check DB trace - Start profile - Verify the alerts generated by my activities

Question 441

In order to enable auto node discovery, what JVM Argument will you enable ?

Answer 441

Modify the "setenv.bat" file (which is in the /bin directory) by setting the following JVM argument to true: DSMAAutoNodeDiscovery=true

Question 442

What does Auto Node Discovery mean?

Answer 442

It is a new feature added in 7.2.2. Its a way to manually manage nodes in a cluster. - Configures the IP addresses of the nodes in a cluster - Automatically adds new nodes, - Updates the cluster node list.

Question 443

You have just updated the password of an operator. The said operator, when trying to login with the new password, still faced the wrong password error. What could be the reason?

Answer 443

If it is a multiple node environment, then the changes needs take some time to be reflected on all the nodes.

Question 444

A developer wants to delete some operator ID, but unable to do so. What could be the reason?

Answer 444

Verify whether any rules are checked-out by those operators or not. Otherwise, the operator should not have logged-in at that point of time.

Question 445

Your client wants the users to change their password in next log-in. How will you implement it?

Answer 445

Under the security tab of the operator rule, select the "Force password change" on next login.

Question 446

How do you restrict access to SMA?

Answer 446

- For Tomcat-based systems, the web.xml and tomcat-users.xml files control access to such servlets. - For WebSphere-based systems, the users.props and groups.props files define custom user registries

Question 447

What is PAL and how it works?

Answer 447

It is a tool available inside Designer Studio to display statistics, and to identify incremental resources consumed by your processing.

Question 448

Client wants to improve the application user experience, anything you can do from the access role side to make it better?

Answer 448

Can enable client-side rendering of application UI (by adding the PegaRULES:TemplateUIEnabled role)

Question 449

What are the activities for which you can define password in a ruleset?

Answer 449

- Add a ruleset version - Update a ruleset version - Update ruleset.

Question 450

What is a harness?

Answer 450

Its an instance of the "Rule-HTML-Harness" rule type and defines a runtime form.

Question 451

Business wants to show their custom log-in screen instead of Pega screen. How will you do that?

Answer 451

Follow the below steps : 1) Create an unauthenticated ruleset with version 01-01-01 2) Create a new access groups for unauthenticated users (use role as PegaRules:Guest) 3) In the access group, use unauthenticated ruleset as production ruleset 4) Save web-login.html and web-session-return.html under the unauthenticated ruleset (modify with the required background image, etc.) 5) Update the browser requestor type (by adding the unauthenticated access group)

Question 452

What is control?

Answer 452

It is a rule used to define how properties will appear in user form correspondence, etc.

Question 453

Where can you use a control?

Answer 453

Can be used in Property, Report Definition, Section, Harness

Question 454

For a single value text type property, what is the corresponding HTML code?

Answer 454

TYPE_TEXT

Question 455

Your business wants to showcase the key features on user forms or portals. Apart from smart-info, is there any other rule that can do that?

Answer 455

Can use Guided tour rules

Question 456

Which rule categories does Guided tour rules fall under?

Answer 456

Rule-Automation-Tour

Question 457

Can the Guided tour be started automatically?

Answer 457

Yes. We can configure it to start automatically when the section is loaded (need to select pxGuidedTourAutoStart or pxGuidedTourAutoStartOncePerSession)

Question 458

A user complains that he can't see the Guided tour. What could be the reason?

Answer 458

A potential reason could be that the Data-Preference-Operator write permissions is not given (one should have this so that his tour history can be recorded)

Question 459

In order to use LiveUI, is there any specific privilege we should have?

Answer 459

Yes, need "PegaRULES:SysAdm4" and "PegaRULES:SysArch4" privilages